Exploration rank - what works?

[Viking84]

Greetings commanders!

I have recently started doing data delivery missions which for some reason require exploration rank to "unlock". As I have not been out exploring before I therefore have a couple of quick questions.

1. Do the missions themselves contribute to exploration rank? If so, how much? Can't seem to see any increase from them.
2. Do you gain exploration rank only from handing in exploration data, or is it the act of exploring that increases rank?
3. While travelling around in the bubble I use the advanced discovery scanner for "honk-jumping" my way through space. Is there any benefit to doing more detailed scans while still in inhabited space, or would I have to travel further afield for this to give much reward?

Any other tips for increasing exploration rank while still trucking around inhabited space would be most welcome Currently at "Pathfinder" so the honk-jumping must have helped a bit, but progress is slow now.

 

[sewerratuk]

As far as I can work out

1. Yes, same as other formats if its high its more towards rank
2. Yes, you need to hand it in
3. Detailed scan gives the same advantage 20ly or 2000ly

 

[shadragon]

Enter a new system, blow the Disco scanner and (optional), scan the star(s) or any local planets of interest. You'll rank up in no time and also make a few extra credits.

 

[TinyPwny]

1. Do the missions themselves contribute to exploration rank? If so, how much? Can't seem to see any increase from them.

Me neither and I don't think they contribute to be honest.

 

[Arindor]

Detailed scans give you more CR which, I believe, is linked to exploration rank. Also, if the system hasn't been discovered by anyone else, then you will also get a first discovered bonus too. One tip, if you want to improve rep, is to sell exploration data in separate batches. I did this with Empire, Federation, Alliance, and Pilot Federation (if you have the permit for Founders World), and became friendly with each.

 

[kfriman]

With detailed surface scanner you get more credits / planet so you rank up faster. Black Hole, Neutron Star and Earth-like Planets will pay the "jackpot" but metal rich and high metal content planets give also nice payout. And if you a little further from the "Bubble" you might get 1st discovery bonus, +50% more / scanned object. You must be the 1st cmdr to sell that data. Look in the exploration forum, there are good guides there. Fly safe, CMDR.

 

[Hooplah]

Both Explorer and Trader are increased by credits earned. So delivery missions will increase trading and system/planet discovery will increase exploration. Kill some higher rated than you ships along the way and combat will increase. Here's some numbers:

View attachment 98105
Data from elite-dangerous.wikia.com

 

[TinyPwny]

Both Explorer and Trader are increased by credits earned. So delivery missions will increase trading and system/planet discovery will increase exploration. Kill some higher rated than you ships along the way and combat will increase. Here's some numbers:

View attachment 98105

Yes but you have to make those credits by selling exploration data or commodities. Earning credits by turning in missions does NOT count as far as I see

 

[Viking84]

Interesting, my exploration rank matches well with the figures above (6.5m profit, Pathfinder rank), but my trade rank does not at all match (Tycoon rank, 55m profit). Most of my trade rank comes from Shadow Delivery missions it seems.

 

[Zenith]

The exact mechanism hasn't been documented yet, but it seems driving around on planets and discovering materials for the first time adds to your exploration rank. I think it was Ziljan who noticed their rank incremented just from driving around.

 

[racer1]

Interesting, my exploration rank matches well with the figures above (6.5m profit, Pathfinder rank), but my trade rank does not at all match (Tycoon rank, 55m profit). Most of my trade rank comes from Shadow Delivery missions it seems.

Trade rank includes smuggling and mining profits too.

 

[who?]

The exact mechanism hasn't been documented yet, but it seems driving around on planets and discovering materials for the first time adds to your exploration rank. I think it was Ziljan who noticed their rank incremented just from driving around.

Yeah, it was posted in an old Dev update. In addition to scan data (honk, and targeted scans) your rank increases a lot with 1st scoop of a material, less with subsequent scoops, and also while driving on a planet's surface - increasing the further away from Sol you are.

 

[Pollux29]

I found recently that passe her mission s increase explorer rank once handed in. I've been doing site seeing tours to one or two stops. Netting a few million per trip. I've ranked up explorer pretty quick. I'm also using discovery and surface scanners while en route

 

[Harley Quinn]

Quickest way to get exploration rank currently is long range passenger missions. Until they fix it with next update you can easily become Elite in exploration for <10 of them with honking and occasional scan along the way.

Haven't done any myself but know people who have made Elite within a month by doing this, and getting to ranger in a couple of days and pioneer within a week.

 

[digital-black]

Here's an option I used... and it worked well.

Go to the Rag's to Riches stie [one of the 3rd party applications for Elite Dangerous].
http://edtools.ddns.net/expl.php?s=&d=200&n=300&x=on

This app plots a list of all the High value planets in systems.
The beauty of this is that you can do this even in the bubble.
Took me about a full 10 hrs to get through the first 140 systems on the list...
made 160mil. I've made two more exploration excursions doing about 60 systems each... made another 120, mil in less than 8 hours total game play.

When I started... I was about halfway through Trailblazer. In less than 18 hours of gameplay... I made it to 30% of Pioneer.

Planning another longer exploration trip to see if I can get to Elite [only 70% to go]. If I were to do a whole route listed in the app... It should yield roughly 230+ mil, which should bring me to Elite rank... or real close to it.

 

[Vasious]

As far as I understand, exploration rank is increased by

Selling Data, level 1 to 3 scans work, more CR more rank
Missions that are associated with Exploration rating such as salvage missions or sight seeing passenger contracts
Driving the SRV, further from Sol, greater the value, most noticeable at lowest ranks

 

[Spacecat]

Sightseeing missions aren't totally horrid. Each one is sort of like a mini adventure and they give quite a bit of exxplo rank.

 

[Bob Lighthouse]

Sightseeing missions aren't totally horrid. Each one is sort of like a mini adventure and they give quite a bit of exxplo rank.

I second this.
Taking illegal passengers can spice it up a bit.
You can read all the tourist beacon stuff too.
Now I know about Michael Pantazis.

 

[Aashenfox]

Yes but you have to make those credits by selling exploration data or commodities. Earning credits by turning in missions does NOT count as far as I see

Just a clarification here. When you complete a mission that is an 'exploration' mission (sightseeing passenger for example), the money that you earned from it counts dollar for dollar toward your explo rank the SAME as handing in exploration data. The same goes for cargo missions and trade rank. Combat rank is applied at the time that you kill an enemy and cash earned from combat missions does not affect it, just for completeness.

Stacking 3 or 4 sightseeing missions and honking every system you go through, is one way to gain exploration rep super fast, for example, mainly from the cash rewards, the honking is just cream.

 

[Aashenfox]

Sightseeing missions aren't totally horrid. Each one is sort of like a mini adventure and they give quite a bit of exxplo rank.

My go-to cash maker, as it also gives great faction rep (triple). I stack 3 of these in my Warca, ensuring that they pay 3m per stop (so 3 stops, needs to pay 9m or I won't take it), if you follow this rule (3m per stop), you gain explo rank at an insane rate, and as I said above, you can honk and scan for extra money and explo rank. As spacecat says, it's a decent activity, you get taken to lore zones, etc., if you're moving criminals, frequent interdictions, they aren't usually boring missions. 3 missions with average 3 stops each takes almost exactly one hour, so it's a 25m per hour activity, not fantastic, but good enough, and I enjoy the lore and flying the Warca.